FORMER Sarawak state police chief Datuk Dr Yusoff Nook has lauded the Royal Malaysian Customs Department’s (JKDM) approach to enhancing enforcement internally and externally, adding that other law enforcement agencies (LEAs) should adopt a similar strategy to combat the increase in commercial crime in Malaysia.
Yusoff said this following the announcement by JKDM director-general Datuk Anis Rizana Mohd Zainudin who said yesterday (Sept 25) that JKDM’s total revenue collection has reached RM41.68 bil as of Aug 31 this year.
Speaking in Bernama TV’s Ruang Bicara programme, Anis had noted that the revenue was higher than in the same period last year, which was RM36.13 bil.
Commending the department’s success, Yusoff said the significant achievement reflects the positive impact of JKDM’s inward reforms and external enforcement efforts.
“JKDM’s effort to enhance internal efficiencies while intensifying external enforcement serve as a valuable model for all LEAs, especially in the face of increasingly sophisticated commercial crime schemes, including online scams,” he remarked.
Recall that recently, Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) director Datuk Seri Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf reported that the country has lost RM1.5 bil to commercial crimes between Jan 1 and Aug 11, 2024.
Out of over 18,205 cases of commercial crime that were investigated, 10,848 cases successfully prosecuted.
According to Yusoff, JKDM has demonstrated how a combination of internal reforms and strengthened enforcement operations can lead to tangible results.
“This is particularly relevant as commercial crime, especially in an era of advanced technology, continues to pose a severe challenge to law enforcement,” he added.
Yusoff went on to applaud Anis’s leadership in steering the department to a new height by revamping JKDM’s internal processes, including removing underperforming personnel, collaborating with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to root out corruption, and implementing stronger internal policies.
This has resulted in record enforcement actions against revenue leakages, notably the seizures of 15 containers containing 150 million illegal cigarettes, 30 tonnes of illegal tobacco, and 32 tonnes of plastic waste collectively valued at RM118 mil.
Calling for other LEAs to replicate this inward-outward strategy, Yusoff noted that improving personnel efficiency, removing “bad apples” and empowering honest and capable officers are essential steps to elevating law enforcement agencies’ capabilities in fighting commercial crime.
Looking ahead to Budget 2025, Yusoff urged the government to allocate resources to support LEAs in training, rewarding performances, better protecting whistleblowers and enhancing cross-agency collaboration.
“These initiatives are essential in building a robust enforcement infrastructure that can keep pace with the evolving landscape of commercial crime,” he remarked.
“As Malaysia continues to grow and integrate into the global economy, our enforcement agencies must be equipped to safeguard the public from the far-reaching impacts of economic and commercial crimes.” – Sept 26, 2024
Main image: Bernama
